Docking User Interface Elements

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatus for managing elements in a user interface for a software application executing on a computer system include displaying a user interface having separate elements including at least an image browser element for viewing preview thumbnails of available images, an image viewer element for accessing a selected image and a Heads-Up Display (HUD) element that displays metadata for the selected image; receiving user input requesting that the HUD element be moved from a current location in the user interface to a destination location in the user interface; and modifying the displayed user interface by moving the HUD element to the destination location and selectively altering a size or location or both of one or both of the image browser element and the image viewer element to accommodate display of the HUD element at the destination location in the user interface.

1 . A method performed by a computer system, the method comprising:
 displaying a user interface for a software application, the user interface having a plurality of separate elements including at least a first element and a second element;   receiving user input requesting relocation of the first element from a first location in the user interface to a second location in the user interface; and   modifying the displayed user interface by moving the first element to the second location and selectively altering an appearance of the second element to accommodate display of the first element at the second location in the user interface.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  in which the first element comprises a dockable Heads-Up Display (HUD). 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  in which the HUD displays meta-data for an item of media content. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  in which the item of media content comprises a digital still image or digital video. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  in which the second element comprises at least one of a media display element and a media editing element. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein altering an appearance of the second element comprises one or both of resizing and relocating the second element sufficiently such that no overlap occurs between the altered second element and the first element at the second location. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 receiving user input requesting relocation of the first element back to the first location; and 
 modifying the displayed user interface by moving the first element back to the first location and selectively altering an appearance of the second element to accommodate display of the first element at the first location in the user interface. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the user interface further comprises at least a third element and wherein modifying the displayed user interface comprises moving the first element to the second location and selectively altering an appearance of one or both of the second element and the third element to accommodate display of the first element at the second location in the user interface. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein receiving user input requesting relocation of the first element comprises receiving an indication that the user has clicked on a docking button displayed in conjunction with the first element 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein relocating comprises moving the first element to a closest vertical edge of the user interface. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein relocating comprises moving the first element to a closest vertical edge of the user interface that is not already occupied by another element. 
     
     
         12 . A system comprising:
 a storage device for storing media content including a plurality of digital images; and   a computing device communicatively coupled with the storage device, wherein the computing device is configured to execute a digital image manipulation application that is configured to perform operations comprising:   display a user interface for the digital image manipulation application, the user interface having a plurality of separate elements including at least a first element and a second element;   receive user input requesting relocation of the first element from a first location in the user interface to a second location in the user interface; and   modify the displayed user interface by moving the first element to the second location and altering an appearance of the second element to accommodate display of the first element at the second location in the user interface.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  in which the first element comprises a dockable Heads-Up Display (HUD). 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13  in which the HUD displays meta-data for an item of media content. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14  in which the item of media content comprises a digital still image or digital video. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12  in which the second element comprises at least one of a media display element and a media editing element. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 12  wherein altering an appearance of the second element comprises one or both of resizing and relocating the second element sufficiently such that no overlap occurs between the altered second element and the first element at the second location. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the digital image manipulation application further comprises instructions to:
 receive user input requesting relocation of the first element back to the first location; and 
 modify the displayed user interface by moving the first element back to the first location and selectively altering an appearance of the second element to accommodate display of the first element at the first location in the user interface. 
 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the user interface further comprises at least a third element and wherein modifying the displayed user interface comprises moving the first element to the second location and selectively altering an appearance of one or both of the second element and the third element to accommodate display of the first element at the second location in the user interface. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 12  wherein receiving user input requesting relocation of the first element comprises receiving an indication that the user has clicked on a docking button displayed in conjunction with the first element 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 12  wherein relocating comprises moving the first element to a closest vertical edge of the user interface. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 12  wherein relocating comprises moving the first element to a closest vertical edge of the user interface that is not already occupied by another element. 
     
     
         23 . A method performed by an image editing software application executing on a computer system, the method comprising:
 displaying a user interface for the image editing software application, the user interface having a plurality of separate elements including at least an image browser element for viewing preview thumbnails of a plurality of available images, an image viewer element for accessing a selected image and a Heads-Up Display (HUD) element that displays metadata for the selected image;   receiving user input requesting that the HUD element be moved from a current location in the user interface to a destination location in the user interface; and   modifying the displayed user interface by moving the HUD element to the destination location and selectively altering a size or location or both of one or both of the image browser element and the image viewer element to accommodate display of the HUD element at the destination location in the user interface.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the current location comprises a floating location within the user interface and the destination location comprises a docked location at an edge of the user interface. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the destination location comprises a floating location within the user interface and the current location comprises a docked location at an edge of the user interface. 
     
     
         26 . A computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program, the computer program comprising instructions that when executed by a processor of a computing device cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
 display a user interface for the computer program, the user interface having a plurality of separate elements including at least a first element that displays metadata for a selected media item and a second element for accessing the selected media item;   receive user input requesting that the first element be moved from a current location in the user interface to a destination location in the user interface; and   modify the displayed user interface by moving the first element to the destination location and selectively altering a size or location or both of the second element to accommodate display of the first element at the destination location in the user interface.   
     
     
         27 . The medium of  claim 26  wherein the current location comprises a floating location within the user interface and the destination location comprises a docked location at an edge of the user interface. 
     
     
         28 . The medium of  claim 26  wherein the destination location comprises a floating location within the user interface and the current location comprises a docked location at an edge of the user interface. 
     
     
         29 . The medium of  claim 26  in which the first element comprises a dockable Heads-Up Display (HUD). 
     
     
         30 . The medium of  claim 26  in which the second element comprises at least one of a media display element and a media editing element. 
     
     
         31 . The medium of  claim 26  wherein altering an appearance of the second element comprises one or both of resizing and relocating the second element sufficiently such that no overlap occurs between the altered second element and the first element at the second location. 
     
     
         32 . The medium of  claim 26  further comprising instructions to:
 receive user input requesting relocation of the first element back to the first location; and 
 modify the displayed user interface by moving the first element back to the first location and selectively altering an appearance of the second element to accommodate display of the first element at the first location in the user interface. 
 
     
     
         33 . The medium of  claim 26  wherein the user interface further comprises at least a third element and wherein modifying the displayed user interface comprises moving the first element to the second location and selectively altering an appearance of one or both of the second element and the third element to accommodate display of the first element at the second location in the user interface. 
     
     
         34 . The medium of  claim 26  wherein receiving user input requesting relocation of the first element comprises receiving an indication that the user has clicked on a docking button displayed in conjunction with the first element 
     
     
         35 . The medium of  claim 26  wherein relocating comprises moving the first element to a closest vertical edge of the user interface. 
     
     
         36 . The medium of  claim 26  wherein relocating comprises moving the first element to a closest vertical edge of the user interface that is not already occupied by another element.